Signaling apparatus for street-railway cars.



E. MORRIS.

SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR STREET RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1914 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

mvmtoi E. MORRIS E. MORRIS. SIGNALING APPARATUS FOR STREET RAILWAY OAR'S.

. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1914' 1,1 32,864.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

avwvmtoz E. M o R R \5 v 4 A l v mm: My a 1 U Q H 0 M E 00 m 7 1: r/ V 8 i W 2 m WT D STATES OFFICE! EDWARD MORRIS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SIGNALING-APPARATUS Fort STREET- AILWAY cans.

, Specification of Letters Patent. fatented Mar, 23; 1915,

' .1 'I L I Application filed March 16,1914. Serial No.825,055.

' l b l the arrangement of the signal lampsand l3e it known that I, 'EnwmaMonnrs, a the circuit therefor; Fig. 2 is an enlarged citizen of the United States, residing at Bos-. vert cal section through the switch. box

'ton,-in the county of Sufiolkand State of which is arranged in the door jamb. Fig. a 1 Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the useful Improvements in Signaling Appaelectrical plug and socket connection beratus for Street-Railway Cars, of which the tween the opposed ends of the cars in a followin is a specification, reference being. train; Fig. 4 is a detail section of the metal had to t e accompanying drawings. socket member removed from its .insulating 65 vThis invention relates to an improvedeleccasing. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken" =trical si aling system: for street railway on the line 5-.5' of Fig. 4.

' cars, an has for ts primary object to pro- In Fig. 1 ofthe drawings, I have illus- -vide an electrically operated signal within trated railways cars of that type generally vview of the motorman, the circuit-for which employed upon 1 elevated, subway and inter- 7o is closed only when all of the car doors are urban-lines, in connection with which the closed, thus obviating liability of accident present invention is particularly designed which frequently occurs when the car is. for. use, though it will be understood'that provided wlththe ordinary bell operated by with the adoption of very slight modificathe conductor. p 1 I 'tions, the signaling apparatus may also be 75 The invention has for a further. object to rendered applicable to various other types of vprovide danger signal lamps arranged above cars. It will therefore, be understood that each of the car doors, said lamps being conthe following specific reference to the car nected in multiple through the medium of structure does not necessarily import any switches arranged in the door ja'mbs with a limitation into" the invention as defined in so common circuit, whereby when any one of the subject matter'of the appended claims. the doors is in its open position, the lamp Referring now in detailto the drawings associated "therewith will be illuminated. and more particularly to Fig.1 thereof, 5 The invention has for a further and more designates the car body which is provided specific object to provide improved means in opposite sides with a plurality of sliding So for connecting all of .the signaling lamps doors 6, for the entrance and exit of the pasupon a train of cars coupled together, in a sengers. At one side of the door opening, a

common illuminating circuit. switch box 7 is countersunk in the door As astill further object of the invention, jamb, said box being provided upon one end I aim to provide a very simple and novel with an attaching plate 8-whereby the same 90 85 switch construction arranged in the door may be rigidly secured in place. The detail .jamb of the car whereby the purposes of the construction and arrangement of the parts invention will be efficiently accomplished. of the switch mechanism will be later spe- The invention has for a further general cifically set forth. 9 designates the motorobject to provide a signaling apparatus of mans compartments which are arranged 95 40 the above character which may be inexpenupon relatively opposite"'sides of the center sively installed in railway cars of the presof the car 'atthe ends thereof. Suitable 'ent construction without necessitating any folding doors 10 are adapted to be arranged material alterations therein and is reliable in position to divide off themotormans c0m-. and-positive in practical operation.- partments from .the remainder of the car-10o 4 With the above and other objects in view occupied by the passengers when the motor- I as will become apparent as the description man is stationed in said compartments. The proceeds, the invention consists in certain door 10 at the opposite end of the compart- '.constructions, combinations and arraHgQ- ment' is adapted' to be folded for a purposements of'the parts that I shall hereinafter which will be obvious. In each of the com- 105 fully describe and claim. 1 partments 9, an electric signal lamp 11 For a full understanding of the invenf bl hit i arranged, id l -tion,-reference is to be had to the following being disposed. boveand at one slde of the description and accompanying drawings, in controller 12. An electric lamp bulb 13 which I (preferably red) is also arranged above each 0 Figure 1 is a horizontal section through of the sliding doors 6. Whenthe car is 1 n one car and. a portion of'another showing operation, the motormans signal lamp'll 1s however, being illuminated when the ing to loosely receive one end of the movable plug or stem 15. The other end of this stem is provided with an enlarged cylindrical head 16 which is loosely movable through a central opening 17 provided in the attaching plate .8. A plug of insulating material indicated at 18 is fixed upon the stem--15- contiguous to the head 16 and within the box 7. A coil spring 19 bears at one of its ends against this plug and at its other end against the bracket plate 14, said spring normally actingto force the stem 15. outwardly. A ring or annulus 20 of metaI"'or-..,

other suitable conductive material is carried by the insulating plug 18, and, when the switch plug is in its normal position, bears against the resilient contact plates 21 which are fixed at one of their endswithin the box 7 and suitably insulated from the walls thereof. A second pair of opposed spring contact plates 22 are also arranged within the switch box and extended in an opposite direction with relation to the contacts 21.

Again referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings,-wherein I have diagrammatically illustrated the electric circuit, 23 designates the trolley wire or other electrically charged element which supplies the conductor 24 with current for the operation of the car.

A wire 25 is connected to this conductor,

said wire extending to the motormans signal lamp 11 in one end of the car and then from the lamp to one of the spring contact plates 22. A suitable resistanceindicated at '26 is interposed in thiscircuit wire. "A wire contact plates 22 and to the of the of the spring corresponding plate in the switch box of the adjacent car door, a similar Wire connecting the other of said plates in-the latter switch box to one plates 22 of the switch arranged in the' op'posite end of the car. From the opposed plate 22 of this latter switch box, a

27 is connected to the other wire 28 extends to the corresponding plate of the switch in the other end of the car' and on the opposite side thereof. The plates 22 of the remaining switches on this side of the car are connected by Wires as above described, and a wire 29 connects the signal lamp in the motormans compartment at the opposite end .of the car to that-above referred to, with the plate 22 of the switch for-"the end door, as will be'readily understood. Fromthi's latter lamp, a Wire 30 excontacts 21 in the 'gether to form a train,

tends to the ground indicated at 31. In this grounded wire, a switch 32 is located. From this description, it will be apparent that when all of the car doors 6 are closed, the switch plugs 15 being forced inwardly, the metal rings 20 are engaged with the opposed contact plates 22 and the lamps 11 being connected in series are illuminated when the circuit is thus closed. In the event, however, that any onev ofthe several doors is not entirely closed, the circuit will be interrupted so that the lamps will not be illuminated. The motorman or conductor may readily ascertain which of thedoors may havebeen inadvertently left open or is only partially closed owing to some derangement of the operating mechanism therefor, by viewing the several lamps 13 arranged. above said doors. The lamp above the open door will be illuminated, said lamps being connected in multiple in the following manner: The circuit wire 33 in which a resistance 34 is located is joined to the Wire 25 which in turn is connected to the conductor 24. This wire 33 is connected to one of the contacts 21 of the door switch at one end of the car. A

wire 35 connects this wire 33 with the corresponding contact 21 of the switch at the opposite end of the car and on the same side,

' while a wire 36 is joined to this wire 35 and connected to the corresponding contact 21 of the central door switch. The other contact plates21 of the door switches at opposite ends of the car are'connected by a wire 37, -which connects the end lamps 13. A wire 38 is connected to the other contact 21 of the central door switch andextends to the lamp 13 above said door and is joined conducting rings 20 being out of engage ment with the contact plates 21, the circuit through the lamps '13 will be broken. If for any reason, however, one of the doors is notclosed, said ring'engaging the spaced particular switch box 7 will closethe circuit through the lamp arranged above-that door, and illuminate the same, thus disclosing to the conductor or motorman which. one of the several doors is open. As' above explained, while the door remains n its open' position, the moto'rmans lamp is not. illuminated.

hen several of the cars are coupled tothe circuits for the motormans signal lamps in the several cars are connected by a plug and-socket prefers 46 of the bore 43. This flangeis preferably formed with screw receiving openingsvide longitudinally extendingspring tongues ably constructed'in the manner shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive of the drawings. In. the end wall of one car a casing of POI'CQ'.

lain or other insulating material indicated at 41 is arran ed, said casing being preferably of conica form and having an attaching plate 42 secured *upon its larger end.

This casing is centrallybored' as at 43 to receive the metal socket member 44 which is provided with an annular flange 45 on one end to extend into an annular enlargement whereby the socket member may be rigid y secured tothe insulating casing. The socket member 44 is split at opposite points to pro- 47, the free ends of which are normally disposed inwardly of the peripheryjof said member, and formed upon their inner faces with lugs or projections 48. To the closed end of the socket member, a wire 49 is elec-. i'tri'cally connected while the other ,end of said wire is joined to'the circuit ,wire 30.

insulating block 50 is provided'in which one end of the plug 51 is threaded. This plug tapers slightly and is adapted to be re ceived 1n the socket member 44, said plug as it enters the open end of the socket member engaging the spring arms 47 thereof and forcing the same outwardly. At the inner or larger end of the tapered portion of the socket member, an annular groove 52 1s formed in its periphery to receive the lugs or extensions 48 upon said sprin arms,

- whereby ,the plug and socket mem er are held in proper electrical connection with each other. It is of course understood that a a wire 53 is connected to the plug 51 andleads to'one of the spring contacts 22 of the door switch at the end of the car; In this manner,'it will be ap arent that by simply opening all of the switches 32*with the ex ception of the one located upon the rear end car'ythe motormans signal lamps upon-all cars of the train are connected in serieswith a" common operating circuit. ThlS switch 32 on the'last' car, is of course closed inorder to "properly-close thecircuit through the ground.

ofmy improved si aling system for street railways will be ,c early and fully understood.

4 By the use of the invention, street railway accidents maybe to a large extent obviated and considerable monetary loss to the company 'growin out of damage suits thus eliminated. so, the conductor is relieved ofconsiderable care and responsibility which is now required in the operation of cars rcvided with the ordinary signal bell. he

tion.

From, the foregoing description. taken in connectioniwith the accompanying drawings, it isflbelieved that. the construction,- .manner of "operation and several advantages door lamps 13".afi0rd a danger signal for. the

passengers as well as a means for locating any one of the several door operating mechanisms which maybe .outof order. My in- .vention as a whole is also very simple 1n its construction and arrangement and may be "the door switch and plug and socket connection, I do not desire to be limited to the particular arrangement of the several parts comprised inthese obviously necessaryinstrumentalities, but expressly reserve the privilege of adopting various other types or.-

switchesand-circuit connectors which I may later find to be either more economical'or better adapted to the particular exigencies arising from the application of .the inven- Having is claimed is:- a

" 1. The combination with a railway car provided with a plurality 0f entrance and exit doors of motormans si a1 lam s arranged inopposite ends' of the car, a-circuit forisaidx lamps, switches arranged in the-door 'jambs and connected in series in the-circuit, said switches being operated by *the doors'when thesameare closed to close said circuit, and an indicative signal adjacent to eachidoorf and operativewhen the door is open.

j 2. The combination watt street railway carprovided. with a plurality of entrance and exit doors, of motormans signal. lamps thus described the invention, what arranged in opposite ends ojrthe car, a cirjcuit for said'lamps, an indicative device adl'jacent each -of the doors, switches arranged in'seriesfin the circuit operated by therespective doors; whereby the circuit is closed 1' and the signallamps-illuminated when all of'the'doorsare closed, and a shunt circuit in whichithe indicative devices are "connected iii-multiple, said switches being includedin'the s unt' circuit whereby, when m one of -the doors isopened, the indicative'device' adjacent thereto is operated.

'3'. The combination with a street railway car provided with a plurality ofentrance and exit doors, of motormans signal lamps arranged in the opposite ends of said car, a

circuit therefor, switches arranged inthe door'jambs and connected in series in said circuitand operated when the doors are closed to close the circuit and illuminate the lamps, an indicatlve'lamp adjacent to each of the doors, and a" shunt" circuit therefor which is closed by the respective switches when any one (if-the doors is open, whereby the lernp adjacent to said door is illumi- I 4. The combination with .a/ street railway .carprovided with ii-plurality of entrance and exit doors, often indicative lamp adjacent to each of said doors, enielectricrcircuit for said lamps, switches arranged in the jembs of the respective doors through which the lamps are connected in multiple in vthe circuit, whereby when any one of the several doors is open, the lamp adjacent thereto is illuminatedw 5. The 'combinati0n;'with ezreilway car provided Withn plurality of entrance and exit doors, of motormans signallamps arranged in the opposite ends of said car, a circuit for said lamps, a, switch erranged in the jamb of each door and each including spaced pairs of contacts, one pair of con v tacts of each switch being included in said circuit, an indicative lamp adjacent to each of the doors, e shunt circuit for said lamps, said lamps being Wired to the other pair of contacts of each switch, each of said switches. also including a spring held circuit closing member engaged with the letter pair of contacts when the door with which the switch is associated is open, whereby the door lamps are individually illuminated,-

fsaid circuit closing member being actuated by the door when the same is closed to en' 

